Introducing Violin for Adults

A Group Course for Beginners

Next classes start 16-19 April 2018.

‘A sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony.’ – Arthur Conan Doyle

‘I know that the most joy in my life has come to me from my violin.’ – Albert Einstein

‘I have really enjoyed Violin for Adults at the school, especially the outstanding teaching skills, kindness and patience of the instructor. I have to say that choosing this course was a very good decision.’ – S. Zhou

Let’s start by getting rid of the myth: if you want to play the violin you don’t have to start at an early age. True, if you want to be the next Maxim Vengerov, Anne-Sophie Mutter or Nigel Kennedy it helps if you begin quite young, but at the New School we believe that students at any age can learn to play the violin, and play it well. All it takes is time…and commitment.

Designed especially for adult beginners, the New School’s Introducing Violin for Adults course covers posture, holding the violin and bow, basic technique, scales, pieces and ensemble playing. Classes, though relaxed and enjoyable, are designed to build your skills methodically and thoroughly. By the end of this ten-week course you will have learned some essentials of reading and performing music on this magnificent instrument.

Participating students will need to have have a violin to bring to class and to practice at home, as well as a copy of Fiddle Time Joggers, by David Blackwell and Kathy Blackwell (Oxford University Press). Inexpensive starter violins can be purchased from most good music shops.

Have you enrolled in this course? Download our Introductory Handout for tips on how to get the most from it.

Otávio Gomes

Hailing from São Paulo, Brazil, Otávio began his music studies at the age of seven and joined his first youth orchestra at the age of ten. He toured to several countries with the orchestra and was later appointed concert master. After completing his BMus degree in violin at the Faculdade Mozarteum de São Paulo, Otávio went abroad to study with the renowned Romanian violinist Remus Azoitei in London and later moved to Germany, where he performed with a number of different groups working in various music genres. He is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Media and Music Technology at Trinity College, Dublin. During his performing career, Otávio has played with numerous orchestras and ensembles, ranging from classical to Brazilian music. As a teacher, he has over a decade’s experience working with both individuals and groups in Brazil, the UK, Germany and Ireland.

Sarolta Simo

Sarolta (pronounced ‘Sharolta’) was born in Transylvania and started learning the violin at the age of ten. She studied violin, piano, orchestral music, chamber music, theory, composition and music history at the Arts Lyceum in Targu Mureş, Romania and continued her studies at the Gheorghe Dima Academy of Music in Cluj Napoca, where she attained her Master Diploma in violin. She then performed numerous concerts in Italy, Germany, Switzerland and Hungary as first violinist in the Hungarian Opera Orchestra, Transylvanian Symphony Orchestra and several chamber orchestras. After coming to Ireland in 2009, Sarolta studied traditional Irish fiddle with Brian Duffy and Olcan Masterson, then joined the band What the Folk, touring with them around Ireland for three years. She moved to Dublin in 2012 and joined the Dublin Orchestra Players and UCD Symphony Orchestra conducted by Ciarán Crilly, performing in the National Concert Hall and National Convention Centre. She has also performed as a soloist with the Dublin Orchestra Players in performances of Vivaldi’s Concerto for Four Violins and Bach’s Concerto for Violin and Oboe. More recently, Sarolta has worked with several Dublin-based professional string quartets and performed with the inaugural orchestra of the Irish National Youth Ballet, founded by Ciarán Crilly in 2012.

‘This course is great! My class has a relaxed, non-competitive atmosphere that is a pleasure to be part of, and I’ve learned loads.’ – E. Finnegan

‘[T]his course has opened up new horizons for me. I never thought I could learn a musical instrument, and so far Waltons New School of Music has allowed me to dream that it is possible, no matter what age I am.’ – S. Flonn

‘All the fundamentals were covered, which gave us the best foundations for learning how to play the violin correctly. Terrific teacher, and the atmosphere of the class was always great and positive. I had fun at every class. Thank you.’ – S. Foreman

‘I’m finding [the course] very enjoyable and not at all intimidating. The teacher makes us feel at ease as we learn the violin.’ – D. Forsyth

‘This course gave me a great introduction to a difficult instrument in a friendly, fun environment. It was challenging but thoroughly enjoyable, which I think should be credited to the patience and helpfulness of the teacher.’ – M. Joyce

‘Having just retired from work, I decided to have a go at learning the violin. I was apprehensive about the prospect, not having any experience of playing a musical instrument. However, all my concerns were unnecessary as I found the course relaxing and my progress of learning the instrument quicker than anticipated.’ – D. McKeon

‘Small classes, good instruction, knowledgeable teacher.’ – O. Mason

‘Very relaxed and enjoyable lessons with an excellent teacher!’ – R. Power

‘Great price. Great teacher. Progressed a lot in a short space of time.’ – M. Quinn

‘Stimulating and enjoyable.’ – V. Shortt

‘I had no music background but the teacher was very helpful and made it very enjoyable. I really enjoyed the classes. Thanks!’ – J. Vasseur

Have you taken – or are you taking – this course? We would appreciate it if you could take a few moments to give us your feedback in a brief online questionnaire about it.

Enrolment for this course requires a completed Enrolment Form and full payment of the course fee. Places in each class are limited to eight, and are available on a first-come, first-served basis, based on the date of enrolment. A number of our group courses fill in advance of their start dates, and early enrolment is recommended.

Two weeks before the end of each Introducing course, participating students will be given options for continuing their tuition at the school if they’d like to do so. Although a continuation ‘Improvers’ course cannot generally be scheduled on the same day/time as the Introducing course, one can be arranged if enough students would like to continue and the teacher has timetable availability. Students can also continue their tuition with private (one-to-one) lessons or ‘partner’ lessons with another class member (see Tuition Options – Private • Partner • Small Group Lessons). We are happy to discuss these options with you.